A burst pipe is a homeowners worst nightmare as it can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home and furniture. The best thing that you can do when a pipe bursts is call a professional plumber to ensure that the leak is repaired correctly and damage is minimised. However, there are a number of things that you can do while waiting for the plumber to arrive including:
1) Turn Off The Water Supply
The very first thing that you should do when a pipe bursts in or around your home is turn off the water supply. (In Australia the water main is typically found near the water meter at the front of the house.) This will shut off the flow of water and prevent any further damage to your home and should be done as quickly as possible.
Make sure that you are aware of the location of the water shut off valve before a plumbing emergency as you don’t want to be searching around for it while a burst pipe is pumping water into your home.
Note: Once the water has been shut off you will not be able to use the shower or toilets.
2) Call A Plumber
Once you have safely stopped the flow of water to your house by turning off the water supply, call your local plumber to ensure that the pipe is repaired as quickly and efficiently as possible.
3) Clear Away Excess Water
The next step is to clear away as much excess water as possible to minimise the damage to your home and furniture. Use a mop and bucket as well as any old towels you have to soak up and remove the water. This will also help to prevent mould and mildew which can pose serious health risks to your household if ignored.
4) Take Photos For Insurance
Now that the leak is contained and the professionals are on their way, take photos of the damage caused by the burst pipe including water damage to furniture and other items. This will be useful when you lodge a claim with your insurance company. Make sure that you don’t throw away your damaged items straight away as your insurance provider may want to inspect them before processing your claim.
5) Prevent Another Leak
After the burst pipe has been taken care of, the final step is to reduce the risk of having another pipe burst in the future. Unlike many cooler climates, most burst pipes in Queensland aren’t caused by the water in the pipes freezing as our winters tend to be mild at best. In Australia, burst pipes are likely to be caused by rust, hard water, or poor installation which should be judged on a case by case basis. If you’re looking to reduce the risk of a pipe bursting in your home, talk to your local plumber.
Your Local Plumbing & Hot Water Specialists
Sun City Hot Water & Plumbing are your local plumbing and hot water specialists. We offer a comprehensive range of services from burst pipe repairs to new hot water system installations.
We offer fast and reliable plumbing services Sunshine Coast wide with immediate attention to emergencies and most other work completed within 24-hours of your call. Call us today on 1300 728 122 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
